SOTA Yellow Rabbit Hill VK1/AC-039

Time for another activation of this local summit. Approached it a bit of a different route this time, instead of Bullock Paddock Road took the turnoff onto Warks Road off the Brindabella Road. Followed this along until turning off onto Yellow Rabbit Road on the left.

Followed this down the hill before taking it off to the left and around the side of Yellow Rabbit Hill

Fairly twisty but not requiring 4WD. Took an unnamed road off this heading up the hill, it got a bit steep and narrow so parked and started walking. View of the summit ahead

The road dropped and then headed to the left of the summit, climbing steadily. View to the North

The road joined another road that rises and passes close to the summit. Took an overgrown track off this on the right to the summit

Arrived at the usual operating clearing just down from the summit. Andrew VK1NAM's summit rock pile, added a few more rocks to the pile...

Set up the squid pole on the usual log.

SOTA shack on the tarp on the ground nearby. Found I had to move it later as the sun got more overhead to keep in the shade.

Got on 40 m. Peter VK3PF/7 on VK7/NW-046 was on 7.090 Mhz, so worked him first for an S2S. Found a clear frequency and spotted myself, got a good list of chasers in the log, VK1, VK2, VK3 and VK5 with nice signals. Another S2S with Al VK1RX/2 on VK2/SM-014 The Cascades, very strong signal.

Switched the linked dipole to 20 m, a few more in the log, Mike VK6MB with a good signal and John VK5BJE. Matt VK1MA popped up to advise me that VK2MWP Andrew and VK1EM Mark were now on 40 m on VK1/AC-002 Mt Gingera.

Went back to 40 m, worked them both with good strong signals, although they should be as Mt Gingera is an excellent SOTA peak and not that far away from me. Worked them again after UTC rollover, and another S2S with Peter VK3PF/7 on VK7/NW-046. Worked Mark VK1EM on 2 m SSB with a good strong signal.

Finally tried 10 m. The band was full of USA stations in a contest, sounded like a 10-10 contest going by the reports. Listened to some, they were running 500 w, 1500 w...Didn't bother trying a return call from my weak 5 w station...

Tried calling on 28.490 SSB, got Matt VK1MA with a very strong report, otherwise no other replies. I tried answering one USA station calling CQ, he came back, K0TT Denny in Minnesota. He was peaking S7, but was running some power into a good sized beam to pull me in...

Packed up and headed home for lunch. Track log of drive/walk